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Heated testimony in New Hampshire on bill to end Medicaid coverage for infant circumcision
Summary
House Bill 94 would end Medicaid reimbursement for elective infant circumcision. Supporters urged the committee to stop paying for what they called a non‑medical, irreversible surgery; opponents — including Jewish and Muslim community representatives, pediatric and medical societies, and clinicians — said ending coverage would burden low‑income
Representative Soddy introduced House Bill 94, which would eliminate Medicaid coverage for elective infant circumcision. The sponsor and pro‑bill witnesses told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that circumcision is a nonessential, cosmetic or prophylactic removal of healthy foreskin tissue on otherwise healthy infants, and that public funds should not be used to pay for elective procedures without clear, compelling evidence of medical necessity.
Nut graf: The hearing became highly charged, with proponents of the bill emphasizing medical‑necessity and cost arguments while opponents — including religious leaders, Jewish and Muslim community representatives, pediatric and medical organizations and clinicians — warned the…
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